1

How bad:
The "child" class for an individual with cirrhosis is an old measure that combines bilirubin, albumin, ascites, encephalopathy, and nutritional status. It does not take into account the underlying cause or whether this might be treatable. It was used to estimate how somebody might do after being given an old portocaval shunt procedure. Wishing you strength & serenity at this challenging time.
...Read more

5

Liver cirrhosis:
Liver cirrhosis has many reasons. Most common in the us are alcohol abuse, and hepatitis c. Other causes could be due to wilson's disease, alfa veto protein deficiency etc.
...Read more

6

Most common alcohol:
Most common cause of cirrhosis is alcohol. Other causes included virsus such as hepatitis. There is also non alcoholic casuse aka nash. Other causes include billiary cirrhosis where bile backs up in the liver. Overall the liver eventually becomes fibrotic and no longer functions. This in itself leads to many other problems.
...Read more

7

Need more info:
Cirrhosis can be "compensated" or decompensated-- like fluid build up in your abdominal cavity (ascites), confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), bleeding varices, liver cancer (hcc). You could have easy bruising, fatigue and jaundice (elevated bilirubin) as well. With some of the above, life expectancy can be lower, but transplant can fix this! See a liver doctor who can discuss the above with you.
...Read more

8

Signs of Cirrhosis:
There are many "signs" or physical findings of cirrhosis. These include: spider angiomata (small spider like blood vessels on the skin, see picture), clubbing of the fingers, palmar erythema (reddening of the palms), gynecomastia (enlargement of the breasts in males), enlargement of the liver and spleen, ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), jaundice (yellowing of skin) and many more.
...Read more

10

For how long?:
Cirrhosis is irreversible liver disease, though it may remain in a compensated state for a few years. It also depends on the cause of cirrhosis and associated pathology. See this site for more info. http://www. Webmd. Com/digestive-disorders/cirrhosis-liver.
...Read more

12

Liver failure:
Liver produces a large number of proteins, lipids and metabolizes a large number of chemicals, drugs and normal blood constituents. Cirrhosis affects both cellular function and circulation through the liver. The effects are edema, bleeding in the GI tract, fluid in the belly that may get infected, development of cancer in cirrhotic liver etc.
...Read more

14

Can vary:
Cirrhosis can be asymptomatic in some but in others symptoms of decreased appetite, fatigue, feeling sleepy or confused (hepatic encephalopathy) can occur. Your liver doctor can help manage and control the above symptoms as they occur at different rates.
...Read more

15

Many things:
The liver has many functions, both anatomically and physiologically. When these are interrupted the results can be devastating. Increased pressures, particularly in the portal venous system can create ascites, esophageal and other varices, hormonal changes because of lack of detoxification of estrogen or production of multiple products like albumin, etc. Can create feminization, etc.
...Read more

16

It depends...:
The cause of liver cirrhosis has a lot to do with the answer to your question. Patients may live for many years with proper treatment and monitoring. However, there are fulminant forms of cirrhosis for which life expectancy without a transplant is weeks, months at best. Proper diagnosis and evaluation will chart the course for both treatment and prognosis.
...Read more

18

No:
Alcohol is only one cause, and in the us has now moved into 2nd place to chronic hepatitis c. However, the combination of alcohol and hep c makes cirrhosis come earlier and in a more destructive form. Worldwide, hepatitis b is the most common cause. There are other causes as well - wilson's disease (hereditary), autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and recently, obesity with fatty liver.
...Read more

20

Depends:
It depends on your definition of decompensated cirrhosis, since cirrhosis itself is a de-compensated condition by definition. Liver function tests (blood draw), ultrasound, and specific types of scans (fibroscan, MRI, CT) can add to the picture. See you internal medicine doc for more specific info, or contact us here at HealthTap for a live consultation
...Read more

21

Options:
If this is from alcohol, if you quit you may have a normal life ahead of you as the scarring can partially reverse. If this is a hepatitis that can be managed, or hemochromatosis or wilson's that can be treated, or if a transplant is available, you may be in excellent shape. Untreatable cirrhosis usually kills within 5 years but these things are never certain. Embrace each day.
...Read more

24

Liver transplant:
It also depends on the cause. Liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis b can reverse with medication. Hepatitis c on the other hand rarely reverses from cirrhosis to a non-cirrhotic state. A liver transplant is the ultimate cure for cirrhosis, but not everybody is a candidate for liver transplant.
...Read more

26

Cirrhosis:
Cirrhosis is an end-stage liver condition that affects many aspect of liver function. Although the longevity is adversely affected, it is hard to define exact expected survival. Here is more on cirrhosis: http://www. Laendo. Net/english/cirrhosis-58020983.
...Read more

29

That is the end:
When the liver is affected by constant insult or injury, often in relationship to hepatitis or other inflammatory diseases, fibrosis (scarring) is started. It is separated into 4 stages, stage 1-4. Cirrhosis is the end stage of scarring, and is the same as stage IV (4). You cannot return to normal liver function once the liver is cirrhotic.
...Read more

30

No:
Obesity is quickly becoming an increased risk and overtaking alcoholism as a leading cause of cirrhosis. Obesity inflames the liver causes fatty liver, hepatitis which can lead to. Other causes can be infection such a hepatitis b or c. Certain genetic disorders as well. And occasionally toxic reactions to medications.
...Read more